Our Commitment to Outdoor Learning
At 小黄鸭导航 ISD, we know that learning extends beyond the walls of the classroom. Students who play and learn outdoors are healthier, happier, and perform better academically. Research shows us that connecting students with nature provides opportunities for hands-on, experiential learning and play that improve physical activity and health, mental health and stress management skills,.1 relationship building skills, and academic outcomes.
Our Outdoor Learning Program is built upon several key initiatives designed to create enriching outdoor educational experiences for all students. Our goals are to embed nature into district policies and procedures, support equitable access to nature, increase student time in nature, and implement sustainable practices in and outside of the classroom.
Initiatives
小黄鸭导航 Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights
On January 26, 2017 the 小黄鸭导航 City Council unanimously approved the and AISD proudly signed the pledge to support it. This initiative ensures that every child has access to nature, promoting exploration and a lifelong connection with the environment. Download and display . The states:
"Children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities have the right to climb a tree, catch a fish, picnic in a park, hike a trail, ride a bike, splash in a creek or river, discover plants and wildlife, play in the sand and mud, gaze at the night sky, chase a firefly, plant a seed and watch it grow, and harvest and eat a fruit or vegetable."
Field Trips
AISD provides free field trips to the Outdoor Wonder and Learning (OWL) Center. Field trips can be requested HERE (Google Form TBA). There is funding available for other nature-based, . If you are using federal funding for your field trip, follow this .
AISD Outdoor Wonder & Learning (OWL) Center (COMING FALL 2025)
Field trips to OWL Center, our district's nature-based outdoor learning center, allow teachers and students to engage with nature in a hands-on, meaningful way. Keep an eye out for information about how to schedule a FREE field trip to the OWL Center. Learn more !
Improving Your 小黄鸭导航yard
If your school wishes to create improvements on your campus, consult with the community and find a staff member to submit a Campus New Project Request. The web page will also have a menu of Outdoor Amenities that are pre-approved by our construction review committee. Refer to for ideas and guidance.
Professional Learning
We provide hands-on professional development for teachers, empowering them to utilize outdoor spaces effectively. Reach out to owl@austinisd.org to request training or guidance at your campus.
Upcoming trainings:
August 29th - Project WILD training at the OWL Center
Gardens
小黄鸭导航 ISD has approximately 120 gardens across our schools. Many of these gardens are certified as or by the National Wildlife Federation, attracting monarchs, birds, and native wildlife, creating vibrant ecosystems for students to study and appreciate. All schools are invited to participate in AISD鈥檚 Garden to Caf茅 program.
Heritage Trees and Reforestation
AISD maintains a rich tree canopy, featuring some of 小黄鸭导航's most notable Heritage Trees. Our AISD Urban Forest Program ensures that trees remain healthy and safe, serving as valuable assets for our schools and the broader community. Additionally, we partner with local organizations to support school reforestation efforts, enriching our outdoor learning environments.
Thoughtfully Designed Outdoor Spaces
Incorporating "Outdoor Learning" into AISD鈥檚 revised Educational Specifications (see ) allows us to intentionally design outdoor spaces that support learning activities. Each school features dedicated areas for hands-on exploration, fostering curiosity and creativity. Our educational specifications for new 2022 Bond Program construction projects emphasize that:
鈥淥utdoor Learning environments are an essential part of AISD鈥檚 vision for learning environments.鈥
Elements of Outdoor Learning include:
- Outdoor Studios
- Active Playgrounds
- Gardens
- Domestic Animal Habitats
- Nature Trails
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure
- Grass PE Play Fields with Exercise Trails
- SEL quiet spaces
- Activities and Elements of Outdoor Learning
- Outdoor Learning activities include, but are not limited to:
- Environmental Education
- Social Emotional Learning
- Physical Activity
- Hands-On Experiential Learning
Get Involved
We invite parents, students, and community members to participate in our outdoor learning initiatives. Whether through volunteering in school gardens, starting your own Green Team to achieve Eco小黄鸭导航 certification from the National Wildlife Foundation, attending community events, or exploring our Green 小黄鸭导航 Parks, there are countless ways to support outdoor education at AISD.
Start a Green Team & Become a National Wildlife Federation Eco小黄鸭导航
小黄鸭导航 ISD is a proud partner of the . The Eco小黄鸭导航s framework activates school-based teams of students, administrators, educators, and community volunteers to drive at their campus.
In order to streamline activation, engage student, faculty, staff, and community members, track progress, award incentives and certifications, and best support your green team, we are committed to getting every campus in AISD registered in the NWF Eco小黄鸭导航s program.
Become a Green 小黄鸭导航 Park
AISD collaborates with the program to create Green 小黄鸭导航 Parks. These schoolyards have outdoor learning features and are accessible to the public outside of school hours, encouraging community engagement and outdoor activity. 小黄鸭导航 ISD schools have the opportunity to and receive the official designation.
Resources:
, , and Programs
- see 鈥渆xplore Green Features鈥 for design & maintenance info
, , and
Contact Us
For more information about the 小黄鸭导航 ISD Outdoor Learning Program, please email: OWL@austinisd.org
Thank you for supporting outdoor education in 小黄鸭导航 ISD. Together, we can nurture a love for nature and learning in our students!
鈥淚f we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it.鈥 - David Sobel
Check out AISD's Outdoor Learning Tool Kit!
Print posters, view field trip guides, and access other resources to grow outdoor learning at your campus.
